Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-19

The New York Herald. commenting upon the
Baltimore and Ohio accident and other recent
railroad disasters. reaches the conclusion that
railway corporations do not Of their own accord
provide for the highest degree OF safety to pas
sengers that State laws are inadequate 10 furnish
remedy, as legislatures often subject TO cor
porate influence, and recommends Congressional
legislation for the prevention OF railway catas-
trophies maintaining that as protection for
life or limb Is OF more vital con-
Germ than excess or discrimination in charges
the power TO pass the desired measure is as clear
as the power to enact the Interstate commerce
law. Unauestionably the railroads need more ef-
fective regulation TO prevent defective construc-
ton, unsafe equipment or appliances, and reck-
lesshess In operating The apparent failure OF the
State governments to meet the emergency and the
frequent appalling disasters may give point the
argument In favor OF the ownership and manage
ment OF the railroads by the national government.
But while traf1ic Is often interstate and beyond
the reach OF the state governments railroad
disasters and their causes are not Interstate
commerce must be regulated by Congress II IL Ia
regulated at ALL Railroad construction and equip
ment can without difficulty be the subject OF ef-
fective local laws, ir the State legislatures have
the disposition 10 protect life against the results
OF corporate ayarice. The influence OF the great
corporations Is not confined State legislatures;
and Congressional supervision and legislation
without national ownership would be subject to
serious drawbacks. Some OF the states are quick
TO respond with appropriate legislation to the
emergency disclosed by each railroad disaster. The
other States should be led driven into line Con-
gresS would move pOnderously and inenectiyely In
such matters, and Its legislation would not keep
pace with the needs and discoveries of the times.
Before CONGRESSES established as successor OF the
State legislatures In the capacity OF preventer Of
railway catastropheS and general supervisor OF
railroads 1t must show the ability and disposition
TO exercise control and prevent catastrophes on
the lines In the District of Columbia over which 1t
has exclusive jurisdiction. The whole subject of
the District railroads will be brought before 1t
specially at the next session. The dangerous
damaging and dishguying routes by which our
great roads pierce the city the very of Cap
itoi Hill viii Do considered. More satisfactory
routes. in the main above or below grade, reuev-
ing the great avenues and public parks of railroad
tracks. are TO be established and a union depot
located Ii Congress viii take this opportunity to
act vigorously for the benefit OF the people OF
washington disregarding entirely corporate in
nusnce, IL ~ill yindcate the wisdom OF the Herald
In dominating II as national supervisor and VIII
earn the profound gratitude of the capital city.
The inquest into the cause of the railway horror
at Chatsworth, H., fixes the blame, not upo a
Railway company which builds trssties OF wood in
district that for three months OF the year is sun
scorchsd and for the rest is weather-beaten;
WHICH employs rev UNCERTAINTIES. and puts those
so far apart that they constitute no safeguard
against accidents; and which allows the dry grass
along It's line OF track TO be fired and left un-
watched for several hours In a dry, hot season;
but upon poor wretch OF a station hand who,
SO far as can be ascertained from the evidence
TAKEN did his duty well as his uaintelngent
mind grasped the idea OF 1t. This fellow goes TO
Jail and will probably be tried for manslaughter
He may be punished, as he ought to be II
It can be shown that he was the party
primarily responsible for the disaster. But
all the fgnominy that can be heaped upon him
viii not exonerate his employers who must be
made TO feel what they have done through the
one channel by which they can be reached-their
purse Some eighty identified victims, whose rep
resentativeS can sue for Ave thousand dollars for
each death, would bring the penalty from that
source alone up TO four hundred thousand dollars
The wounded viii probably demand an equal or
even larger amount, and then there Is a quantity
OF ruined property TO be replaced IL Is not likely
that the company viii escape, II pressed from all
sides with less draft than million and half OF
dollars upon It's resources. This would be a pretty
heavy price TO pay-lOoking at IT purely frora a
sordld point Of yiew-fof Reglecting precautions
which, AT the outside, would have cost only q few
thousands